Naruto: I became a super shadow in the Anbu.

Chapter 227 How Can You Swear?
Sakumo Hatake opened his eyes, and the hesitation in his eyes slowly dissipated.

No matter how hard he found it hard to believe, the Konoha leadership had tried to kill Shinma.

He thought the conflict between him and the village leaders was a difference in policy and direction, but he never expected it to be a life-or-death struggle.

Parker continued, "The deaths of Shimura Tan and Sarutobi Yu might have been caused by the fox. Should we confront the fox, or take this opportunity to do something? Make a decision quickly."

Sakumo Hatake stood up and said:

"Regarding the incident of Xinma's murder, I ultimately sent Yueguangzong to rescue Xinma."

I knew that Xinma was going to his death. The village's higher-ups knew that I knew Xinma was going to his death through the appearance of the Moonlight Sect.

It was an unspoken understanding, just not explicitly stated.

Now, it's out of my control.

If I continue to compromise, the people around me—Moonlight Sect, Yamashiroji, Hakuun Hayato, Shinma, and even Kakashi and Minato Namikaze—may be framed by the village's higher-ups.

My strength and the threat I pose to the village leadership leave me with no other choice.

Sooner or later, I will challenge the current order of Konoha.

If I withdraw, Singapore, Malaysia, and others will die sooner or later.

If I go in, there's still a glimmer of hope.

There's no need to dwell on who killed Shimura Tanjiro and Sarutobi Yu. Tomorrow I'll go to the Hokage Building to take on Konoha's most dangerous mission, a mission that no one else can do.

"Using this as a strategic retreat, there's no need to explain anything to the village."

In the basement training room of the Tsurugi Izakaya, Yoru waited all night.

He was somewhat surprised that he didn't receive a notification from the ninja dog Pakkun about his contracted chakra.

How exactly does Sakumo Hatake plan to respond?

If Sakumo Hatake were to question him about whether he killed Tanjiro Shimura and Hiroshi Sarutobi, he had prepared a set of excuses that would be enough to deal with Sakumo Hatake.

Who would have thought it was him? Who could have confirmed that it was him? Even the Anbu couldn't find the culprit, so how could Hatake Sakumo possibly find him?

After waiting for a long time, they still didn't receive the contract chakra from the ninja dog Pakkun.

The next day, Ye Guang quickly arrived at the Hokage Building using several Body Flicker Techniques.

Upon entering the Hokage's office, Yagami discovers that Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo, and Orochimaru are present.

Why did they call him here? There's no murderous aura about these people.

We can't possibly find out he's the murderer, can we?

Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "The fox was the first Anbu to investigate the perfect Jinchuriki of Kumogakure. Let's hear what the fox has to say."

Yagami was a little confused. Wasn't the big news recently the killing of Shimura Tan and Sarutobi Yu? Why were they talking about the perfect Jinchuriki again?

Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Sakumo Hatake just came to the Hokage's office and said he wants to take people to the Land of Lightning to investigate the information about the perfect Jinchuriki of Kumogakure, and asked for my approval."

I didn't refuse, I just said I'd study the existing intelligence first.

"Fox, you were the first to get the information from the Iwa ninja. Who do you think is stronger, Hatake Sakumo or Ryuujin?"

Yako suddenly realized that Hatake Sakumo was preparing to take the initiative, in order to gain greater prestige and accumulate a more dazzling resume.

What could be more dazzling than suppressing a Jinchūriki?

Ye Guang thought to himself, if he said that Hatake Sakumo was far stronger than the Jinchūriki, then Hatake Sakumo would have no chance to go.

If he were to say that the Jinchūriki was stronger than Sakumo Hatake and that Sakumo Hatake's life was in danger, the Third Hokage would be eager to send Sakumo Hatake off within half an hour.

After a moment's thought, Ye Guang said, "Lord Hokage, Hatake Sakumo's swordsmanship is very strong."

If the Jinchūriki were in his normal form, he would be no match for Sakumo Hatake.

However, Sakumo Hatake lacks the means to fight enemies of enormous size. If the Jinchūriki goes berserk and transforms into a colossal monstrous beast, I think Sakumo Hatake will be helpless.

The Hokage nodded; this assessment was very accurate. He turned to Orochimaru and asked, "Orochimaru, what are your thoughts?"

Ye Guang was puzzled again: why was Orochimaru involved in such high-level discussions?
Orochimaru said, "What's there to be afraid of? Kumogakure has two Jinchuriki, one is Sakumo Hatake, and the other is me. Let's see who achieves more significant results. Why not let him go?"

This time, Ye Guang understood. It seemed that Orochimaru had placed Hatake Sakumo in the position of a competitor.
He suddenly realized that Orochimaru was about to start vying for the Fourth Hokage position.

Before Minato Namikaze grew up, Orochimaru, as Hiruzen Sarutobi's disciple, one of the Legendary Sannin, and the vice commander in several wars, was the most popular candidate for the Fourth Hokage.

Faced with the aggressive Sakumo Hatake, the higher-ups chose to promote Orochimaru.

Nightlight glanced at Danzo, who didn't seem to object.

After a moment's thought, Ye Guang believed that the reason Danzo did not object was because Orochimaru was dishonest, and Danzo was confident that he could bring Orochimaru down at any time.

After pondering for a moment, the Third Hokage said:
"I will allow Sakumo Hatake to investigate Ryuujin, the perfect Jinchūriki of Kumogakure."

The fox was sent to follow Hatake Sakumo under the guise of recording intelligence, ensuring the accuracy of the information.

If Sakumo Hatake can't find anything out, that would be great.

"If he finds out anything, Orochimaru, you can use the information Sakumo Hatake gathers to deal with the other Jinchuriki of Kumogakure, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Brubi."

Orochimaru was somewhat unhappy. Why should he have to follow behind Sakumo Hatake and eat the leftovers? He didn't think he was any worse than Sakumo Hatake.

When Ye Guang heard that he was to follow Hatake Sakumo, he knew that the higher-ups had never suspected him and Hatake Sakumo, and that he had hidden himself very well.

Danzo asked, "Are we just going to let Tanjiro and Hiroshi's deaths go by like this? Isn't this just a tactic by Hatake Sakumo to divert attention?"

Ye Guang felt slightly uneasy. Were they going to continue investigating? And even investigate him?
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Although Sakumo Hatake's ideas are out of step with ours, I believe in his character. He won't kill Tanjiro Shimura and Hiroshi Sarutobi out of personal grudges."

Danzo said, "Yesterday you said that the person who assassinated Tanjiro and Yu could not possibly be Tsunade, and today you said it wasn't Hatake Sakumo. It couldn't possibly be the Uchiha clan, could it?"

Uchiha Zhong was a weak and compromising figure within the Uchiha clan; he didn't have the courage to rebel against Konoha.

Hearing Danzo belittle Uchiha Bell like that, Yagami felt that Uchiha Bell had lost all face.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took deep drags on his cigarette, and before long, the entire office was filled with smoke by himself.

Orochimaru said, "Smoke less. Tsunade said that every time she comes to your office, she leaves smelling of smoke and has to change her clothes."

During this period, the person among the Sannin who cared most about the Third Hokage was actually Orochimaru.

There's a reason why the Third Hokage's memories before his death were all of Orochimaru's good side.

"I can't quit, and I can't live without it. I rely on this pipe to relieve stress every day," said Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"The investigation into the deaths of Shimura Tan and Sarutobi Yu continues."

However, I don't think it's necessary to waste time on Tsunade and Sakumo Hatake.

Tsunade loves the village her grandfather founded and would never kill her fellow villagers.

Sakumo Hatake also has his own moral bottom line and wouldn't do such a thing.

Anyone who does such a thing must be an extremely despicable and ambitious schemer, a treacherous insect attempting to instigate internal strife within Konoha.

Ye Guang thought to himself, "This is going too far. How can you swear at people? Just because you're the Hokage doesn't mean you can swear at people."

And you even insulted me to my face?

(End of this chapter)